Chapter 23
[It’s already been three months since I came to this mansion!]
Cecil leaned against the fourth-floor stair railing and looked down at the mansion’s view.
When she first arrived, the place had been like a haunted house—thick with dust like carpet and cobwebs clinging everywhere. But now, it bustled with hundreds of servants.
Under the excellent supervision of butler Isaac, even the hidden corners beneath carpets and behind furniture gleamed.
Cecil was quite fond of the mansion’s view from this spot.
She hadn’t intended to grow attached to a temporary place she didn’t know when she’d have to leave, but she found herself developing feelings for it anyway.
“Honestly, life here is incredibly comfortable. Compared to the palace or the days I spent constantly on the run, it’s no contest.”
The servants—Anne, Isaac, Hans, and the others—were kind to her. They adored Cecil, who was both clever and well-mannered. And the members of the Iregulars, carefully trained under her, were beyond question.
“If possible, I’d like to stay here for a long time.”
[But isn’t the master of this house still terrifying?]
Nibelung intruded on her thoughts.
[Even though it’s been twenty years, and he’s not as cruel and ruthless as I expected, I still don’t like him. I can’t read his intentions.]
“……”
Cecil didn’t answer. She knew Nibelung was right.
There had been various incidents involving Duke Bartholomew recently… but that wasn’t enough to trust him completely.
Because…
[You know this well, Cecil. He’s already betrayed you once. What’s to stop him from doing it again?]
At the word “betrayal,” Cecil’s expression turned visibly cold.
Her delicate brow furrowed, and she ground her teeth. Her small hands gripping the railing tensed so hard that veins bulged momentarily.
“…Don’t talk about that. It really puts me in a foul mood.”
[I see. My apologies, Cecil.]
Just then—
“Young Lady!”
Voices and footsteps approached from behind. It was Anne and the maids.
“Young Lady, there you are! We’ve been looking everywhere.”
Seeing them rush over with worried faces, Cecil smiled adorably as if she hadn’t been angry moments earlier.
“Sorry, I just wanted to take in the view of the mansion.”
“If you’d told me, I would’ve escorted you.”
Anne, who must have been running around looking for Cecil, was disheveled. She didn’t hesitate to kneel to meet Cecil eye-to-eye.
“You disappear so often. You’re quite the lively one.”
Some people might betray her at any moment and try to take Nibelung from her belly… but others had cared for her consistently from the beginning.
Cecil grinned and threw herself into Anne’s arms, playfully saying:
“Anne, you’re always on my side, right?”
“Oh my, how adorable…”
“She really is so affectionate.”
The surrounding maids fidgeted, unsure what to do. They had all long since fallen to Cecil’s expertly honed charm.
And this was one of Cecil’s frequently used tactics—covering her mischief with cuteness.
“Hm? Of course I am. I’m always on your side, Young Lady.”
Though Anne looked slightly puzzled, she still hugged Cecil tightly.
To Anne, it may have sounded like nonsense, but to Cecil, that answer was very satisfying.
“But… what’s wrong is still wrong.”
[Oh no, she didn’t fall for it!]
Nibelung chuckled.
Cecil had expected this. Most maids would melt from her charm no matter what she did—but Anne wasn’t one to let things slide.
“Running off on your own without saying anything is dangerous. You know that, right? The mansion is huge. You could get lost.”
Anne scolded her kindly but firmly.
[She must have a heart of steel to resist your charm!]
Cecil chided Nibelung inwardly.
“That’s not it, you fool. Anne fell for me ages ago.”
She glanced at Anne’s ear, partly hidden behind tousled hair. It was red.
“She’s scolding me because she thinks I’m unbearably cute and lovable. But what’s wrong is still wrong, and she’s genuinely worried about me.”
Cecil liked that about Anne.
Many people had fallen under her powerful black magic enchantments, but none of them had ever pointed out her faults.
That was only natural. A black magician’s enchantment caused unconditional obedience—not real love.
Cecil smiled warmly.
“Sorry. I won’t do it again.”
She’d probably said that about 50 times already, and had never kept it.
And she likely wouldn’t in the future either. Cecil was a black magician, and there were countless things she couldn’t tell Anne.
Anne smiled softly, her eyebrows drooping.
“You really mean it this time, Young Lady? From now on, you have to stick with me.”
Still, Anne always trusted and worried about Cecil. That was an incredibly comforting thing.
“If I had a mom like this, I would’ve been so happy.”
The thought suddenly crossed Cecil’s mind as she rested in Anne’s arms.
“And maybe I wouldn’t have become a black magician.”
A pointless thought that only brought pain. Cecil shook her head to dismiss it.
Then, a low voice echoed down the hallway.
“You two seem to be getting along very well.”
Startled, Anne bowed her head while still holding Cecil.
“Master, you’re back.”
It seemed Duke Bartholomew had returned from his business trip. Though still in his travel clothes, he looked as dashing as ever—but his expression wasn’t particularly pleasant.
“I apologize. I was too casual with an esteemed guest.”
Anne quickly released Cecil. But the Duke merely walked past them and headed to his study.
“No need to apologize. It’s not a bad thing for a guest and her attendant to be close, is it?”
Leaving only that comment, he entered the study.
“……”
Anne and the maids were left in an awkward silence.
[What’s gotten into him? Is he sulking or something?]
Nibelung sounded puzzled too.
Suddenly, Cecil grabbed Anne’s skirt.
“I’ll be right back. I want to speak with the Duke.”
“Oh, alright. See you soon.”
Cecil knocked and entered the study.
“Excuse me, Duke. Do you have a moment?”
Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window. The Duke, alone in the room, was taking off his coat. After hanging it up, he turned to face her.
“Come in.”
Once awkward about her presence in his study, the Duke now seemed rather used to it. For Cecil, this was a good sign.
“I’m glad you’re back, Duke. If I’d known you were coming, Anne and I would have gone to greet you.”
“There’s no need. I’m used to this. Frankly, that kind of gesture makes me uncomfortable.”
He answered bluntly, but Cecil wasn’t bothered.
“Even so, I really missed you.”
The Duke stared at Cecil, her face lit up with a bright smile.
Then, suddenly, he walked toward her, removed his hat, and gently placed it on her head.
“I was gone for only two days. You’re exaggerating.”
Cecil held the hat in both hands and stuck her tongue out slightly.
“I think I’m starting to get the hang of his patterns. He pretends to be cold and indifferent, but he likes kindness. He can fool others, but he can’t fool me.”
